Irfan Sabir appointed Alberta’s Minister for Human Services

ALBERTA’S NDP Premier Rachel Notley and her 11 cabinet ministers were sworn in on the legislature steps in Edmonton on Sunday and they included Irfan Sabir (Calgary-McCall), one of only two South Asians elected MLAs. The other MLA is Anam Kazim (Calgary-Glenmore), also NDP.

Sabir, a Pakistani-born immigrant, worked as a lawyer for an Aboriginal law firm and volunteered at Calgary Legal Guidance, Red Cross Canada. He worked for five years in a homeless shelter in Calgary.

He has been living in Calgary since 2004. He has a degree in Economics from University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and a degree in Social Work and Law from the University of Calgary.

Sabir has been involved with politics and human rights movements since graduating from high school.

The ministry of human services is a super ministry.

Rachel Notley

Notley told thousands of enthusiastic Albertans who filled the legislature grounds: “It is springtime in Alberta and a fresh wind is blowing. To harness its potential, the hard work begins today.”

The NDP won a stunning victory as it bagged 54 of 87 seats in the May 5 election that has seen a surge for the federal NDP in Canada. The Progressive Conservatives won only nine seats. The Wildrose Party with 21 seats will remain the Official Opposition. The Liberals and the Alberta Party each won one seat.